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More Moleskine Hacks

Everytime I pick up a new Moleskine, I’m reminded how much I freaking love these things. I got a fresh one the other day at Flax, so why not mention a few new Moleskine hacks?

  • Moleskine Metadata - Use the upper right corner of a page to make a small note of what that page is about. Could be the name of the project or whatever helps you jog your memory when flipping through, looking for a specific item.
  • Work the accordion - Since I mentioned the Amazon wish list hack, I’ve started toting other stuff around in my primary notebook’s accordion folder:
    • Extra $20 bill for emergencies
    • Index cards (no need to rip out pages when you wanna share music tips or phone numbers)
    • Photos of family and friends
    • Spare BART card with a few bucks on it
    • CD or DVD  (Pros only.) This is a very tight fit, but a handy way to protect a disc you don’t want shaking loose in your bag.
  • Spine Icons - I know some of you, like me, are multiple-Moleskine nerds. It’s sad, but this is how God’s made us. So, this means you might have a lined notebook, a sketch book, a music notebook, or even a storyboard notebook—all of the same size and outward appearance. Using a silver Sharpie or the like, make a small icon or letter at the same place on each spine to remind you which is which.
  • New Datebooks - Although I primarily live by an electronic calendar, I couldn’t resist picking up the new Moleskine Diary for 2005. If you need a sexy, low-key diary and love the Moleskine feel, give it a spin
  • Dream Journal - I keep a Mini-Moleskine on the night stand for jotting down dreams in the morning. Also handy if you’re dozing off to sleep and remember something you need to do tomorrow.
  • Img_3929Moleskine Smoking Journal - I’ve recently resumed the terrible habit of smoking cigars. I’ve used a Moleskine Heavy Sketchbook to paste in the labels and make notes on each smoke. You could do the same with your own guilty pleasure, whether it’s wine, candy from East Asia, or—I don’t know—labels from beef brisket, I suppose.
  • The Plume - Although I still swear by my Fisher Space Pen when I’m on the road, I’ve become a recent convert to the Pilot G2 gel pen. It feels great on a Moleskine’s silky  pages. Nice sharp line that’s more even than the Space Pen’s, I must admit. Sits well in your hand, too.

Got a novel use for your Moleskine?

Jeffrey Windsor's picture

My favorite Moleskine hacks: 1. Keep...

My favorite Moleskine hacks:

  1. Keep a few post-its stuck to an index card in the accordian pocket.

  2. Keep a list of critical Next Actions stuck to the outside. I use post-its that are the same general size as the mini Moleskine, with the stickiness along one of the long edges. I then keep the non-sticky edge under the elastic so it stays in place in my pocket. I can glance at my list without even opening the book.

  3. Oh, and I have decided not to worry about ink bleed. I sometimes use my Parker Sonnet if I've got it handy, otherwise I'll use a pencil. The bleed through is minimal, and while it might occasionally interfere with the pristine aestheticism of my notebook, it has never interfered with legibility.

My only aversion is to ball-points. Ungh. Tools of the devil.

 
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